Redefining What A Treat Is?

Redefining What A Treat Is?

           What is a treat?  When most people think about treats, they think about cakes, cookies and pies.  In today's culture treats are widely available, and people are consuming treats daily or multiple times a day.  I question if this is why the world is in an obesity epidemic with lots of children getting diabetes and other horrific diseases.  Before all of these premade treats became available, people had to take the time to make a decadent treat before they could eat it. So having treats available was more time and labor intensive and people prepared them less often which means they consumed less.  I am trying to reteach myself and teach my children that treats are meant for occasional consumption to be enjoyed along with a primarily healthy food plan and way of life.  I feel it is important to allow yourself a treat now and then because it gives the human part of us satisfaction, enjoyment and pleasure.

           Since I became ill, I have had to rethink what a treat could be for me on this food plan.  I also starting rethinking my kids treats and making them with more wholesome ingredients.  If your going to have a treat the best way is to make it with the healthiest ingredients and enjoy occasionally.  When I say occasionally, I mean 2 to 3 times per week in appropriate portion control.  I am finding that I still feel satisfied with my new treat options even though they are not the standard american treat of cakes, cookies and pies.  I also am becoming empowered because even my treats are positively impacting my healing journey.

          So what do I eat for treats?  I love grilled bananas.  I make popsicles out of fresh fruit and coconut water.  An absolute delicious treat on a hot summer day.  When I went strawberry picking, I pureed the strawberries and put it in an ice cream maker.  Viola, in minutes strawberry sorbet was created and enjoyed. I love to eat frozen grapes because they feel like little ice cream balls when consumed.  The yonana machine which makes frozen bananas into soft serve ice cream is refreshing too.  I also love to just have fresh fruit as a dessert after a meal.  I look forward to trying to make new treat ideas without added sugar and sharing it with all of you in a future blog post.  So yes, you can have treats and still be positively impacting your health and healing journey.